Tamping or ballasting machine



Oct- 13, 1925 C. JACKSON TAMPING OR BALLASTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 13., 1925.

TAMPING OR BALLASTING MACHINE Filed Deo, 29 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z8 ci 6 q Oct- 13, 1925- c. JACKSON TMPING 0R BALLASTING MACHINE 3 shets-sheat s Filed Dec. 29. 1924 1N VENTO/e B Y '0rw/'// Jac/r6 0/7 7.7 ATTORNEY:

Patented Get. 13, 1925.

CORWILL JACKSON, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINGIS.

TAMZPING OR BALLASTING MACHINE.

Application filed yDecember 29, 1924. Serial No. 758,658.v

To all .whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CoRwILL JACKSON, a

'citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county ofCook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tamping or Ballasting Machines, of which the following is a specifi cation.

rIhis invention relates to improvements in tamping or ballasting machines.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved tamping or ballasting machine for railway tracks which is of very large capacity.

Second, to provide an improved tamping or ballasting machine for railway tracks inwhich the material is tamped under and around the ties in a. very eiiicient manner.

Third, to provide a machine embodying thee advantages which is very easily operate Fourth, to provide a structure of the class described which is comparatively economical and is very strong and durable.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation of my invention will definitely appear from the `detailed description to follow.l

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the followingspecification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is lclearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig I is a perspective view of my improved tamping or ballasting machine.

Fig. II is a fragmentary end view partially in vertical section on` a line corresponding'to line 2-2 of Fig. I.

Fig. III is a fragmentary lon itudinal section on a line corres onding to ine 3-3 of Fig. II, the crosshea being shown in one position by full lines and in another position by dotted lines.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary view illustrating the action of the tamper upon the ballast and the operative relation thereof to the ties.

Fig. V is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating a modified form of my improvements especially adapted for use on roadbeds of sand orsiniilar material.

In the drawing the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows lat the ends of the section lines and similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all of the views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents lthe ties of a railway track, 2 the ballast and 3 the rails. In the embodiment illustrated the main frame of the machine designated generally by the numeral 4 is adapted as a truck frame being provided with carrying wheels 5 adapted to travel upon the rails of the track to be ballasted.

On thls frame 4 I mount a pair of channeled inwardly facing ways 6 connected .at their upper ends by the cross piece 6 and rigidly supported by bracing members 7 and 8, 1t bemg understood that the frame and the supports for tle channeled ways constitute a rigid unit.

rI he tamper crosshead 9 is mounted to reciprocate in these ways, the crosshead being recessed at 10 on its lower edge to straddle the rails when in its actuated or down position. This crosshead is in practice a casting and in order to permit some variation in theweight thereof it is preferably formed with a T-shaped opening 11 at the center thereof adapted to receive the weights 12. These weights may be inserted or removed by bringing into alinement with the cross portion 13 kof the opening.

The tamper blades 14 are mounted on the crosshead by means of the pivots 15 in coacting pairs, the tamper blades being positioned so that they pass down at the sides of the rails. The curved ti s or edges 14 of the blades are in the em diment illustrated in Figs. I and IV formed asseparate pieces for convenience in manufacture. These tips are arranged to provide shoulders 16 spaced substantially from the ends of the blades. y

Thus arranged the ends of the blades are directed outwardly or diverged so that on the down stroke of the crosshead the blades separate, pushing or driving the ballasting material under the ties as illustrated in Fig. IV. This results in driving or compadipn the ballasting material under the tles an also between the ties so that they are very effectively supported, this being the result that is aimed at by hand-tamping. crosshead acts as a drop hammer, .being raised and dropped or released so that itis actuated by gravity- An engine 17 is mounted upon the frame, its driving shaft 18 being connected to the worm transmission designated generally by the numeral 19 through a clutch indicated conventionally at 20. The driven shaft 21 of the transmission is connected to the sprocket 22 on the shaft 23 by means of the sprocket chain 24.

A shaft 25 is adjustably mounted on the Ways 6, theA bearings 26 for the shaft 25 being carried by yoke-like bearing brackets 27 and being adjustably supported therein by the threaded rods 28. The shaft 25 is further supported by the bearing brackets 29 disposed intermediate the brackets 27. The brackets 29 also carry bearings 26 for the shaft.

The shafts 23 and 25 are provided with sprockets 30 and 3&1, respectively having the crosshead lifting chains 32 thereon. These chains 32 are supported so that the inner reaches thereof are in a plane parallel to the plane of reciprocation of the crosshead, the crosshead having notches 33 in the top piece 34 thereof to receive these pins. At intervals the chains are provided with lifting lugs, preferably in the form of rollers 35 which engage the top piece of the crosshead supporting and lifting the same until the lifting lugs pass forwardly over the top` sprockets 31 when the crosshead is released and is free to drop, it being again engaged by a succeeding lu on the chaln and again raised and dropped.

Machines embodying the features of this invention are very efficient, that is the ballast is packed around and under the ties in a very eiiicient manner and also very rapidl For gravel, crushed stone or cinder ba ast the form of tamperin blades in Figs I-IV is very effective. some cases the ballast is of fine material such as sand which does not pack readily and there is a tendenc for it to work out at the opposite side ot t e tie.

To prevent this I provide a tamper of the form illustrated in Fig. V in which the crosshead arms 36 are provided with a pair of opposed blades 37 ivoted at 38 so that the ades straddle t e tieA being tamped and are curved so that they move toward each other when engaging the ballast on the down stroke instead of separating as is the case where the blades are arranged back to back as shown in Figs. I and IV. In the embodiment shown in Fig. V the one blade serves as a support for the ballast as it is driven down by the opposing blade.

Machines embodying my improvements are of large capacity and Iperform the work very ei'ciently. I have ilustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which I have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other adaptations which I contemplate as I beowever, in

lieve the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as ma be desired.

Having thus descrlbed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a truck adapted to travel upon a railway track, vertical ways on said truck, a crosshead mounted to reci rocate in said ways and recessed on its un er side to receive the rails of the track, tamper blades pivotally mounted on said crosshead in coacting pairs, there being a pair of blades at each side of said recesses in said crosshead, the ends of the blades being outwardly directed so that they tend to separate upon contacting with the material to be tamped, and means for actuating said crosshead.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a truck adapted to travel upon a railway track, vertical Ways on said truck, a crosshead mounted to reciprocate in said ways, tamper blades pivotally mounted on said crosshead in coacting pairs, the ends of the blades being outwardly directed so that they tend to separate upon contacting with the material to be tamped, and means for actuating said crosshead.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a truck adapted to travel upon a railway track, vertical ways on said truck, a crosshead mounted to reciprocate in said Ways and recessed on its under side to receive the rails of the track, tamper blades pivotally* mounted on said crosshead at each side of said recesses, the ends of the blades being laterally directed so that they tend to swing laterally upon contacting with the material to be tamped, and means for actuating said crosshead.

4. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a truck adapted to travel upon a railwa track, vertical ways on said truck, a cross ead mounted to reciprocate in said ways, tamper blades pivotally mounted on said crosshead, the ends of the blades being laterally directed so that they tend to swing laterally upon contacting with the material to be tam ed, and means for actuating said crosshea 5. In a machine of the class described, the combinationv with vertical ways, of a crosshead reciprocating in said Ways, tools mounted on said crosshead in coacting pairs, the pairs of tools being spaced on said crosshead to reciprocate at the sides of a rail as the crosshead travels in said ways, the ends of said tools being directed outwardly, and means for actuating said crosshead.

6. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination with a railway truck, oi' a crosshead reciprocatingly mounted thereon, tools mounted on said crosshead in coacting pairs,

the ends of the tools being directed outward- 1y, and means for actuating said crosshead.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with vertical ways, of a cross- 5 head constituting a drop hammer reciprocat- ,ing in said ways, tools pivotally mounted on said crosshead for free swinging and reciprocating movement at the sides of a rail as the crosshead travels in said ways, the ends of said tools being directed forwardly relative to the plane of the axis of the tooll pivots, and means for actuatingfsaid crosshead.

8.. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a railway truck, of a crosshead reciprocatingly mounted thereon, tools -mounted on said crosshead for free pivotal movement in a plane transverse to the plane in which said crosshead reciprocates, the ends of the tools being directed forwardly relative to the planeof the axis of the tool pivots, and means for actuating said crosshead.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a railway truck, of a crosshead mounted thereon, tools mounted ron said crosshead in coacting pairs and so -that they tend to separate upon contacting with the material worked upon, and means for actuating said crosshead.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a drop hammer member, and a pair of tools mounted thereon so that they tend to separate upon contacting with the material worked u on.

11. In a machine o the class the combination of a reciprocatingly mounted crosshead, tools mounted on said crosshead in coacting pairs, the ends of the tools being curved outwardly, and means for actuating said crosshead.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an impact member, and tools mounted on said impact member in coacting pairs and so that they tend to sepamaterial worked upon.

14. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a head member,` and tools piv'otally mounted on said head member incoacting pairs so that they swing toward each other on the upstro member and tend to separate upon coming into contact', with the material workedu xi.

15. In a machine .of the class descri d, the combination of a reciprocatingly mountrate upon coming into contact with the ina-V `by en separate upon coming into contact with thelie of the headl 'and tools-mounted thereon for free swin' ing movement in lanes transverse to the p e in which the rop hammer reciprocates, said tools having laterally directed ends whereby engagement with the material worked upon tends to swing them forwardly.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a drop hammer member, and a blade-liketool mounted thereon and having a laterally directed end portion whereby engagement with the material worked upon tends to swing the tool in a laterai. direction, said tool having a shoulder is spaced relation to its end.

18. `In a machine of the class described, the combination of a drop hammer member, and'tools pivotally mounted on said drop hammer member in coacting pairs for free Swingin movement in a plane transverse to the p ane in which the hammer recipro- 'uspy cates, said tools being conformed so thatv they tend to swing forwardly upon contacting with the material worked upon.

19. In a machine of the class described, the'coinbination of a reciprocatingly mounted crosshead, a tool pivotally mounted on said crosshead for free swinging movement and so that it may swing from an approximately vertical position toward a horizontal position while in contact with the material worked upon, the end of the tool being directed forwardly to facilitate such swinging movement, and means for actuating said crosshead. e

`20. In amachine of the class described,

'the combination of a reciprocatingly-mounted head, and a tampgr pivotall mounted thereon, said tam r ing provi ed with an outwardly curv end and a shoulder at the base of said curved end.

2,1. -In a machine of the class described, the combination 'of a drop hammer member. and a tool pivotally mounted thereon and so that it may swing forwardly while in contactA with the material to be tamped, said tool having' a curved end portion where-v ment withv the material Yto be tampe tends to swing it forwardly.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combinationy of a drop hammer member and a blade-'like tool mounted thereon-jan so that it may swing forwardly while in contact with thematerial to be tamped, and having a forwardly directedv end whereby venagement with the ballast tends toswing -t e tool in a lateral direction.

23. .In a machine of the class described, the combination of a. drop hammer member, and a 'tool` pivotally mountedon said drop hammer member and so that it may swing from an approximately vertical toward a horizontal position upon contacting with the material tamped.

24. In a machine of the class described, the combination of vertical ways, a crosshead reciprocating in said ways, a pair of shafts disposed ina vertical plane at one side of and parallel to the plane of said crosshead and provided with sprocket wheels, sprocket chains on said sprocket Wheels provided with lifting lugs provided with rollers adapted to engage said crosshead as the lugs pass over the bottom sprockets and to be disengaged therefrom as the lugs pass over the upper sprockets, and tools on said crosshead.

25. In a machine of the class described, the combination of vertical ways, a crosshead reciprocating in said ways, a pair of shafts disposed in a verticalv plane at one side of and parallel to the plane of said crosshead and provided with sprocket wheels, sprocket chains on said sprocket wheels provided with lifting lugs adapted to engage said crosshead as the lugs pass over the bottom sprockets and to be dlsengaged therefrom as the lugs pass over the upper sprockets, and tools on lsaid crosshead.

26.`In a machine of the class described, the combination with a truck adapted to wheels disposed at one side of sai travel upon a railway track, of vertical ways on said truck, a crosshead reciprocating in said ways, tools mounted on said crosshead, I neans for actuating said crosshead comprising vertically disposed chains provided with lifting lugs adapted to engage said crosshead when it is in a lowered position and to release the same when in elevated position, and means for driving said chains.

27. In a machine of the class described, the combination of vertical ways, a crosshead reciprocating in said ways, s rocket cross'- head, sprocket chains on said sprocket wheels provided with lifting lugs adapted to engage said crosshead as the lugs pass over the ottom sprockets and tobe disengaged therefrom as the rollers pass over the upper sprockets, and a tool on .said crosshead.

28. In a machine of the classdescribed, the combination of vertical ways, a crosshead reciprocating in said ways, a driven chain disposed at one side of said crosshead and provided with lifting lugs adapted to engage said crosshead when it is in its lower position and to release the same when elevated, and a tool on said crosshead.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CORWILL JACKSON. 

